Forum - View topicBlu-ray/DVD combo
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Jon182
Posts: 105 |
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Two of my most recent anime purchases, Black Lagoon and Tenchi Muyo OVA, have been bluray/dvd combos. I can't say that I'm happy with this format. I'd like to save on shelf-space, if I can, and I know that I'll never watch the DVDs since I already have the blu rays.
I'd like to know why companies decide to go with this format? Is it just a quick cash grab? Are they too lazy? What are your thoughts? My theory is that: a) DVD is a dying format, but the film industry would like to keep it going for as long as possible...which doesn't make that much sense, since blu ray players have dropped below $100; b) the company is trying to make the most money possible, by releasing the BD/DVD sets together, where people have no choice but to buy them since no individual BD or DVD sets are released. |
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FLEABttn
 Posts: 106 Location: ABQ |
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In no particular order:
1) Cut production costs/overhead. One SKU is cheaper to manufacture than two. 2) Cut amount of shelf space required for distributors/stores to store the product via SKU reduction. 3) Encourage blu-ray uptake for later cost reduction by phasing out DVD versions when applicable and decreasing SKU size. There may be one or two I am failing to recall. |
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Veers
 Posts: 1197 Location: Texas |
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Combo packs are the best thing ever. Most of them really don't take up any more space, they let me enjoy my BD+HDTV setup at home, and they give me a DVD copy to take on the road or lend to friends. There's no downside since in most cases both discs fit in the same case. It's the best worlds as far as I'm concerned.
 
Not really seeing the problem here. spoiler[Besides that my phone's camera lens is scratched to shit.] |
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darkhappy1
 Posts: 495 Location: PA |
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I believe it is the opposite of your "a", in that it's actually to make it easier for people to transition into Blu-ray. If a person who only played DVDs (because he was skeptical of the benefits Blu-ray offered) decided to transition into Blu-ray, they wouldn't have to replace their entire DVD collection, and they would already have movies to play on their brand-new Blu-ray player.
Personally, I like combo-packs. If a person didn't have a blu-ray player at their house when I brought over a movie, or if the television that the blu-ray player in my house is hooked up to is being used, then I can still use the DVDs without having to buy the show again. I don't even think the combo-packs that I have from Funimation and Aniplex (well, Madoka Magica) take much space by themselves at all, considering that Funimation would have used an artbox that equaled the width two single cases regardless of whether they made a combo pack or not, and that two discs still fit in each case for Madoka Magica. Then again, this is the case for their "limited" editions, which Black Lagoon wouldn't count as. |
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Jon182
Posts: 105 |
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@Veers
Perhaps it's only a Funimation issue, I don't know. The only other BD/DVD combos I have are for Miyazaki movies. The Black Lagoon boxset is the width of two bluray cases, as is the Tenchi Muyo OVA box. @Darkhappy Yeah, I was thinking about the transition to Bluray, but it's already been six years or so since they first introduced bluray technology. Most of the people who want bluray players already have them, and they're priced reasonably enough so that you could pick one up at your local Walmart or Bestbuy for under $100. So, while I'm sure the transition to Bluray is a consideration, I think it's mostly due to greed. They still want that DVD market, and they want to charge the markup for including both formats. I just find it wasteful, from an environmental and economical standpoint to have extra discs that I'm not going to use. I look at those 6 extra DVDs from Black Lagoon, when compared to the three BDs that are included and I think, what a waste. I would give them away, but the completist in me likes keeping things in their original packaging when possible. Who knows? Maybe I just need more friends. I could swing by for a quick visit, right guys? |
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ukounouni
Posts: 5 |
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I like combo packs because that means I don't have to double purchase. Just pay a little more for the combo pack.
BluRay players are still expensive compared to DVD players. Not only that, the cheaper ones don't work on older TVs. A typical American house may have one BluRay player for the main TV. That's nice but a typical house has way more than one TV. Usually, those TV's get the demoted DVD player with the demoted older TV and the other TVs get $20 DVD players that work everywhere. Imagine living in a typical family home and watching Freezing on the 70" screen television in wide view of everyone who passes by. Not exactly the most comfortable of experiences is it? In that case, the DVD's are great since you can then watch it on your cheap player in the privacy of your own room. When you finally upgrade to BluRay, then, wow! You now have the BluRay disks already! In a better world, a company like Sentai would release 2 ways. A) BluRay/DVD Combo Pack B) Cheaper DVD Only That would really turn heads. Last edited by ukounouni on Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:25 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Timesplitter 01
Posts: 100 |
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If your talking about the TV series........not really. If your talking about the bonus short OVA's.........then yes it would be awkward. 
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Animegomaniac
Posts: 4287 |
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I don't know about the Tenchi Muyo one but I own Funimation's Black Lagoon release. It's a 3 BD/4 DVD set and even if it is twice the width of regular Blu-Ray cases, it's still smaller than what it used to be. When I have to buy an old series split over seven seperate cases {Hey, Japan, didn't see you there...}, I'm not going to complain about a larger combo pack under a single case. And from an enviromental standpoint - wait, do you really want me to get started on this? Ok. They're still better than broken VHS tapes and unsold atari 2600 cartridges - there's no extra packaging and if you buy it {and if they all get sold} then it's your garbage then. Welcome to Consumerism 102 - Waste Elimination. It's a Circle of Junk and I merely watch it bemusedly while I occasionally add my two cents {and two tons} to it. |
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Raikuro
Posts: 347 |
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I actually get annoyed when things aren't combo packs. Especially when they're the same prices. And the old thinpack method was much more wasteful than a couple thin Blu-ray cases.
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Mesonoxian Eve
Posts: 1858 |
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I don't like them and would rather have the bluray disks only. Several cases I have overlap the disks, and I dislike this method of storage. I'd much prefer a standard-sized bluray case with a disk on each cover, rather than the oft-used "flip book" method (two of my cases already have broken hinges).
I know why they're being produced, so I tolerate them as best I can. As for the question if the companies are making this for cash grabbing, I don't think this at all. They're actually doing us a favor, and I've got to respect that. It's a shame we can't trade in our DVDs for titles we double-dip for. By the time it was said and done, I had 2 DVD copies of Spice & Wolf, Strike Witches and a couple of others because of the combo. |
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One-Eye
 Posts: 2321 |
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I love combo packs and prefer them. When I'm not home watching BDs I'm traveling with my laptop and play DVDs on it. I've had an HD set for a while, but it was only last year that I finally picked up a Blu-ray player. I think there are many other people in the same boat like high school students, or college students who may have older TVs or computers that only play DVDs and not Blu-ray. So overall, I think the combo packs do serve a practical purpose aside from being an extra incentive to buy.
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Jon182
Posts: 105 |
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@uko
I get where you're coming from and you make some valid points. I might be dating myself, but I remember when having one TV was considered a luxury. You've reminded me that I do have an old DVD player lying around that I can attach to my old TV thanks. @animegomanic I still have my old VHS tapes and player, and I watch them from time to time. I try not to throw out stuff that still works...but I get your point about garbage. I try not to create more waste than I have to though. You're right about the Black Lagoon release. I didn't have it in front of me at the time, and I thought that it was six discs for some reason. I still think it's going to go to waste, with me at least. ..unless my brother steals my copy. @Mesonoxian I'd have to respectfully agree to disagree. No company is going to do you a favour, without some sort of benefit to themselves. I'm also unsure if they'd be able to charge the same price if the release was blu ray, or DVD, only. I wholeheartedly agree with you about the trade program. It seems like I'm getting more and more doubles, I forgot that Spice and Wolf is also a combo. 
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batou37
 Posts: 455 |
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I personally don't mind the combo sets. I really have no use for the DVD but it doesn't bother me, as I look at as a sort of last resort backup if I accidentally damage a disc and don't have the money to replace it at that moment but would like to watch the show. One thought I've had, and I don't think there is anything wrong with it as long as you explicitly explain what it is, but to sell the DVDs on eBay or something in basic blank cases. I'm sure there are some people out there that want the show but aren't dead set on the packaging and would rather save the money just to be able to have it. Could even make their own artwork as there are tons of programs out there that can do that. I could see someone paying $15-$20 for a complete new series just in the basic black DVD cases. You would just put in the product description that they come from a combo set and you have no use for them so you thought you'd let someone who would be able to use them get the series for a really cheap price. So now they get a set for a cheap price and you make back a third of what you spent on the set. I haven't ever done this but it was a thought that came to me after I increased my blu ray collection about 3 times over when my local Blockbuster closed and I got a ton of their rental discs for $3 each, and just bought the empty blu ray cases on Amazon to hold them.
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Jon182
Posts: 105 |
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@batou
I appreciate the idea. I just can't be bothered. It annoys the completist in me. I'd prefer to leave the combo pack as is, as opposed to the tedium of buying new cases, or heaven forbid leaving the BDs in a combo box without the DVDs. |
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bones2039
Posts: 108 |
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I'm not bothered by the combo packs at all. As someone that hasn't found a great reason to go out and spend money to replace my perfectly fine DVD player, they at least allow me to continue to purchase shows to watch while allowing me to build up some BD so when I do upgrade I've already got something to watch in that new for me format.
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